Summer is the perfect season to go outside, enjoy the fresh air, and take care of our gardens.
Spending all that time under the sun, however, is not the best thing for our skin. If you are worried about what all those UV rays are doing to your complexion and want to keep your skin looking young, it is a good idea to incorporate some additional habits into your daily skincare routine.
Using products that protect your skin and inculcating habits that promote healthy skin will pay off. After all, there is no reason why your skin should suffer just because you wanted to indulge your green thumb this summer!
For the best skincare tips for the summer gardener, keep reading. We will start with the benefits of gardening in the summer. We will move on to common problems that arise from spending long hours under the sun, then discuss how you can prevent damaging your skin.
The Joys of Summer Gardening
During summer, the sun is bright and temperatures are at their highest. Cultivating your garden is the perfect excuse to spend time outside in the fresh air. If that is your plan, here is a list of benefits to get you extra excited and motivated about gardening.
Good for Your Health
Spending time outside relieves stress, puts us in a better mood, and can help regulate our circadian rhythms so we can enjoy a restful sleep. Being under the sun also helps us get vitamin D while gardening increases our amount of physical activity.
You Can Grow Your Own Food
Fresh fruits and vegetables taste the best and are more nutritious. A summer garden presents opportunities to grow our own food, allowing us to save on food bills.
Beautifies Your Home While Boosting Its Value
Gardeners make great neighbors because they maintain beautiful gardens that improve real estate values. A garden with thriving plants and flowers is a pleasure to look at and Gives you a sense of pride in what you have accomplished.
Summer Gardening and Your Skin
As with all things, summer gardening has its fair share of hazards, particularly when it comes to our skin. Here are some common concerns and how you can address them and continue enjoying working outside.
Too Much Vitamin D
Getting too much vitamin D is less serious for those of us with darker skin. However, if you are fair-skinned, too much vitamin D can cause a build-up of calcium in your blood. Its symptoms are weakness, frequent urination, nausea, and vomiting.
Skin Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, most cases of skin cancer are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States with around 9,500 people being diagnosed with it daily.
Sunburn
For the sake of your skin, you need to avoid getting sunburned. Intense sunlight and frequent sunburn can increase your risk for premature aging of the skin, skin cancer, and skin lesions.
Skin sensitivity, redness, rashes, swelling, and blisters are no fun either! According to the Mayo Clinic, sunburn can even cause fever and nausea.
What You Can Do To Prevent Skin Issues
Thankfully, those skin concerns are easily preventable.
Garden at the Right Times
Avoid gardening when the sun is at its highest and most prone to damaging your skin. Schedule your gardening in the early morning hours or just before dusk when the sun is a lot less intense.
Use Sunscreen
Using sunscreen is the best way to prevent those pesky UV rays from harming your skin. The American Academy of Dermatology shares that regular use of sunscreen with a sun protection factor or SPF 15 can reduce your chances for squamous cell carcinoma by 40% and melanoma by 50%.
If you’ll be spending the entire day outdoors, sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater is recommended. Apply it 30 minutes before going out and reapply every two hours.
Protect Those Beautiful Hands!
All those mani-pedis won’t amount to much if you are going to use your bare hands to dig out weeds and work with soil. Use high-quality gardening gloves and tools to protect those beautiful hands.
Tie Your Hair
It’s strange but many women forget to keep their hair away from their faces when they garden. Every time you touch a plant, you will most likely tuck away any strands that fall over your face. Unless you are sporting a short hairstyle, get that hair up in a ponytail.
It is a great way to keep dirt and irritants out of your hair, scalp, and face.
Wear the Right Clothing
Wear light clothing with breathable fabric, rubber boots, and a hat for utmost comfort and protection. The more comfortable and protected your skin is, the more you will enjoy gardening.
Examine Your Skin
Examine your skin after gardening in the sunlight. Pay close attention to exposed areas. If you see anything unusual like rashes or redness, take appropriate protective measures. If your skin is irritated, apply a soothing balm or if it looks serious, you may want to see a dermatologist to rule out any serious medical conditions.
Hydrate
Keep yourself well-hydrated. Gardening in summer can mean sweating and dehydration. Carrying a water bottle and drinking water regularly keeps your body hydrated and your skin moisturized.
You Can Have a Beautiful Garden and Beautiful Skin
Gardening is a wonderful hobby with several mental and physical benefits. However, it also entails taking extra care of our skin. Protect yourself with the right clothes, tools, sunscreen, and tie your hair up to have the best of both worlds — a beautiful garden and radiant healthy skin.